Eritrea Resource play (ERP)

[Ed Monton]

Sunridge Gold Announces Second Drill Rig Commences at
Debarwa Project, Eritrea

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--Sunridge Gold Corp. (SGC- TSX.V)
reports that a second drill has started work on the Debarwa
copper/gold Project, part of the 1,400 square kilometer Asmara
Project in Eritrea. This is expected to considerably increase
drilling progress on the project. The first drill began drilling
on January 12, 2004 (NR2004-1).

The second drill is a multi-purpose drill that has the capability
of drilling by reverse-circulation (RC), Reverse Air Blast (RAB)
or conventional diamond drilling methods. It is planned to use
the RC drilling method extensively in the exploration work of
Debarwa as it has the advantage of rapidly collecting large
representative samples at much lower cost than diamond drilling.
The drill operator has the option to switch to diamond drilling
in some of the deeper holes that are designed to test the primary
zone of mineralization. In addition, the RAB drilling method will
be used to complete rapid initial drill testing of some of the
many partially covered mineralized zones previously outlined on
the four exploration licenses.

The Debarwa Project is a near surface volcanogenic massive
sulphide (VMS) deposit with an enriched zone of high-grade copper
("supergene zone") from which previous drilling by Sunridge's
joint-venture partner, Sub-Sahara Resources N.L., has returned
values of greater than 10% copper as well as significant gold
values (NR2003-8). The joint venture (Sub-Sahara is the operator
of the program) plans to complete over 5,000 meters of RC and
diamond drilling at Debarwa in order to give better definition to
the supergene copper zone and upgrade the resource into the
"measured" category. Exploration drilling along strike and down
dip will also be conducted in an effort to increase the present
resources.

The drilling is part of a Phase One exploration program, totaling
US$1.3 million, funded by Sunridge, covering a number of VMS
targets as well as structurally controlled gold mineralization on
the Asmara Project. The program includes an extensive 200 metre
line spaced airborne electromagnetic ("EM") survey which was
completed by Fugro Airborne Surveys Pty Ltd. in December 2003
that covered all parts of the property. A total of 5,445 line
kilometres of EM was flown using the Fugro Tempest EM survey
equipment. The fully interpreted results of this work will be
available later in the first quarter of 2004 and are expected to
define other VMS style drilling targets on the property. A total
of 38.44 line kilometres of ground magnetic surveys had been
completed over 5 prospect areas within the Asmara Project
including Adi Nefas Doop, Adi Abeito, Emba Derho SE, Geremy and
Deki Peteros. A ground EM Loop and ground gravity survey has been
started over the Debarwa Copper/Gold deposit. All of this data is
currently being interpreted and results are expected later in the
first quarter 2004.

As part of the Joint Ventures objective to develop new targets to
complement the known deposit areas, a systematic mapping and rock
chip sampling programme was initiated during the quarter. To date
a total of 243 rock chip samples and 61 trench samples have been
collected. Results will be disclosed when all results have been
received and analysed expected later in the first quarter 2004.

Sunridge Gold Corp. is a well-funded Canadian public company
focused on the exploration and development of copper and gold
properties in Eritrea, northeast Africa.

SUNRIDGE GOLD CORP.

Michael Hopley, Chief Executive Officer

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Sunridge Gold Corp.
Don Halliday
[phone]
[phone] (FAX)
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.sunridgegold.com
The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.



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